Out and about again....this is why I bought Himi :)
30th July 2025
Heading from Chillagoe to Irvinebank. July 2025
I purchased my motorbike Himi so that I could get to some new places for my trips into the bush and my photography. 9 months since I purchased Himi and I think I almost have it right.
A female Australasian Darter, Hastie’s Swamp, July 2025.
Initially I struggled to find room on Himi for my big wildlife lens and I did not take it on my 10000 kilometre trip in May. I have now managed to trim down what goes in my bags to make room. I am once again able to use the 600mm lens as I travel!
Himi set up so that I can camp anywhere, anytime.
I have continued to remove parts from the bike and modify/change others to reduce the bikes weight. My luggage is under 15 kilograms and I have just about removed that weight from the bike. This makes riding the bike in the places I want to go much easier.
It also means that I am well and truly able to pick up my bike on my own if it goes down. In some of the places I go I would be wating a very long time for someone to help if I could not.
A campsite by a creek on the way to Irvinebank.
With my Suzuki Swift I would have never been able to get to campsites like the one above. Now I have so many possible campsites that I am recording on my rides that other than people beating me to them……choosing one is the main problem.
Heading from Mareeba to Chillagoe.
Before the wet season arrives I want to get as much riding in as I can on dirt under my belt. I am hoping this practise will elevate my skills ready to start tackling muddy roads later in the year.
After some recent rain I headed up Black Mountain Road to ride it in a slightly muddy state. I then cut across to Mareeba to make my way out to Chillagoe and back into Irvinebank/Silver Valley.
An Australasian Swamphen during my travels.
During my travels if I see a swamp, dam or creek for the first time I generally take a break there, pull out the big wildlife lens and see what happens whilst enjoying a Milo.
A favourite spot near Ravenshoe. July 2025
As well as new spots I still visit some old favourites. The water just above the Washing Machine outside Ravenshoe is a go to place for me to take a break before heading home down the Gillies.
In the days of travelling to the Washing Machine in my car Gin (means silver in Japanese) Chan, I would have had to park about 500 metres away as the steep decline down to the river was 4WD only. Now the motorbike takes me all the way.
My wife and I call this the “Tree House”. July 2025
Speaking of favourite spots, there is an old farmhouse in Misty Mountains that is visible as you make your way from Ravenshoe to Atherton. Over the years my wife and I used to stop and look at it as the trees gradually reclaimed it. I think another couple of years and the house will no longer be visible.
My next change to Himi will be to add a Lithium battery. That will reduce the weight of the bike by another two kilograms. The only other plan I have after that to reduce weight is perhaps swap out the standard exhaust for a lighter one. I think that would save me yet another 2 to 3 kilograms.
The only thing holding me back is that I do like how quiet my bike is and a lot of the aftermarket pipes are much louder. We will see.
The most important thing at the moment is finding a clear week to head out on my next planned trip :) Plan and try or wait and die.